I looked up and gasped in surprise. “Kent! Wow! Crazy seeing you here since you said you were going to be with Jen’s mom all night tonight.” I heard the blonde guy bust out in laughter. When I replayed what I’d said it had definitely come out wrong.

Kent cleared his throat, and his shoulders were rigid, probably because he thought the blonde guy was making fun of him. “Crazy seeing you here too, since I thought you’d be at home playing with yourself tonight,” the corner of his lips kicked up just a bit.

I glared at him as the blonde guy all but rolled on the floor in his joy. Stacy chuckled too for a few seconds, but quickly cleared her throat to stop herself. She grabbed the bong and took a big hit.

“I’ll be right back.” I stood up and moved past the couple making out on the couch. The boy had his hand way up her shirt and I couldn’t help but feel a tiny bit jealous. It should’ve been me and Kent on a couch making out. But no. He was here with her.

The bar was tucked back in the corner and I looked over the bottles as I tried to devise a plan to get Kent to realize he had feelings for me. If nothing else I could declare my love for him. But what if he rejected me? What was I saying? He probably would reject me. He definitely participated in the sleep sex. Your body doesn’t just do that and grope people when you’re unconscious.

I poured whiskey into a red plastic cup and took a big gulp. It burned on its way down and caused me to cough. I felt a warm hand slapping me gently on my back. The tingles and prickles I felt going through my body told me it was Kent before I even turned around.

“Easy, Elly. Whiskey is risky.” He grinned at his own rhyme. Upon seeing my grimace his lips turned down in a frown. “Fine. Don’t think I’m cute tonight. But this is a mistake.” He took the plastic cup from me and set it down on the bar behind me.

I turned around and picked it up. I gulped it down and then slammed the plastic cup down on the bar. I met his gaze and there was silence between us as I tried to keep my whiskey down. “The only mistake was…” I pressed my lips together to keep from saying it. If he didn’t know then he’d probably think I was being jealous or spiteful. If he did know then my heart would be crushed when he confirmed it was a mistake.

“Was what?”

“Was inviting you over for Christmas Eve.”